Temu and Shein are increasing prices starting April 25: Here's what shoppers should know
There are just four days left before Chinese e-commerce sites Shein and Temu will raise prices due to recent tariff increases.
Both companies issued recent notices announcing the price increases, which will take effect April 25.
The increases come after President Donald Trump enacted a series of tariffs on China, increasing tariffs and eliminating a tax exemption on goods imported from China.
Most recently, China has upped tariffs on U.S imported goods to 125%. The White House has also increased tariffs on Chinese imported goods to 125%, on top of other increases. Trump also issued a 90-day pause for the tariffs he imposed on other countries, minus China.
Here’s what you need to know about Shein and Temu's price increases.
What is Shein saying about the tariffs and increase?
In a customer notice shared on its website, Shein thanked customers for their support and said the company still wants customers to be able to patronize the site for their fashion needs.
However, "due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up," Shein said in the statement. "To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025."
The company has promised to keep prices the same until April 25.
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What is Temu saying?
Temu also issued a statement to customers nearly identical to Shein’s. The notice, which has made its rounds online, said the company is doing everything it can to make sure customers get their products on time.
What are tariffs?
Tariffs, sometimes called duties, are taxes that governments apply to goods imported from other countries, according to the International Trade Administration. National sales and local taxes, as well as some customs fees, can also be charged.
Trump announced April 2 that while looking into the U.S.’ financial woes, his administration found "a lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships," with other countries posing a national threat. He also noted "disparate tariff rates" and declared a national emergency.
Why are the US and China in a tariff war?
Here’s a timeline of how things have played out recently.
- Feb. 1 – Trump announced a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and plans to end the de minimis tax exemption. The exemption allowed China to import goods under $800 tax-free, and more than 90% of packages coming into the U.S. enter via the de minimis exemption. Of those, about 60% come from China, reported Reuters.
- Feb. 7 – Trump paused the elimination of the de minimis tax exemption because those tasked with carrying out the order did not have time to prepare. Packages were piling up at ports of entry, Reuters reported.
- April 2 – Trump announced at least a 10% tariff on imports from all countries, as well as individualized tariffs on countries "with which the United States has the largest trade deficits."
- April 4 – China announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S.
- April 8 – Trump announced an 84% tariff on Chinese goods, and again said the de minimis tax exemption for goods under $800 would be nixed starting May 2.
- April 9 – China announced retaliatory 84% tariff on imported goods from the U.S. Trump then said he planned to increase China’s tariffs to 125%.
- April 11 – China announced plans to increase tariffs on U.S. goods to 125%, Reuters reported.
The Trump administration said that most recently, the U.S. has imposed a 125% reciprocal tariff on Chinese imported goods, in addition to a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis and tariffs on "specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%."
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Kinsey Crowley, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Joey Garrison
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.